Testimony of Healing September 22, 1928 Issue

In the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"...

Helen E. Fowler

In the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 369), Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, states that "the prophylactic and therapeutic (that is, the preventive and curative) arts belong emphatically to Christian Science." This claim has been fully justified in my own experience. At an early age I began to suffer severely from rheumatism, bronchitis, and general frailty, and medical verdicts had condemned me to a life of increasing pain and invalidism, with the prospect of utter helplessness ahead. During the last few years before I heard of Christian Science I spent months undergoing massage, mineral baths, and electric treatments, all of which offered only temporary relief from pain, and could promise no cure. A long spell of these treatments had so weakened my system that in addition to the prospect of becoming crippled, serious lung trouble was also predicted. The study of Christian Science and the patient help of a Christian Science practitioner prevented the fulfillment of both these expectations and, instead, my life became one of extraordinary activity; and for the next twenty years I enjoyed such good health that I never had to spend even one hour in bed through illness.

Then came an attack of so-called dangerous illness which was to prove to me the immeasurable power of Christian Science as a curative art. During this experience a relative was staying with us who was not in sympathy with the teachings of Christian Science, and who spoke of them as foolish and dangerous. We were reminded of a neighbor who had been seized with the same kind of malady many years before, and who had died in a few hours in spite of all the skill and care of a doctor and a specialist. This serious condition attacked me with continuous violence for the greater part of eight hours; then came a respite, followed by a recurrence of the attack which lasted for several more hours. The only treatment I had during this illness was Christian Science treatment from one of our practitioner; with the result that God was indeed proved to be man's strength, Life, and Mind; for neither strength, nor clear, conscious thinking was for an instant impaired. So severe was this seeming illness that at one time when my practitioner friend arrived she found that the opposition, aggravated by fear, had so influenced my family and household that they spoke to her of expecting to see death occur at any moment. That fear, too, was speedily met through the loyal, courageous practice of Christian Science. This illness began, in its seeming violence, on a Thursday morning. Three days later I spent the greater part of the afternoon walking about in my garden. I resumed my normal household duties on Monday morning, and on Tuesday, five days from the commencement of the illness, I motored early in the morning to London and spent a long, busy day at my work. According to medical law, even if I had survived, it is probable I would not have been able to leave my bed for many weeks.

This experience taught me many valuable lessons. I learned that there is never a condition too severe to be healed through obedient, humble practice of the teachings of Christian Science. I learned that disease does not yield through human resistance to it, but does yield when resistance takes the form of fearlessly rising above the testimony of it into conscious communion with God and persistently looking away from the body and trying to see life as God knows it. I learned to use the advice given by our Leader in "Retrospection and Introspection" (p. 86): "Art thou still unacquainted with thyself? Then be introduced to this self. 'Know thyself!' as said the classic Grecian motto. Note well the falsity of this mortal self! Behold its vileness, and remember this poverty-stricken 'stranger that is within thy gates.' Cleanse every stain from this wanderer's soiled garments, wipe the dust from his feet and the tears from his eyes, that you may behold the real man, the fellow-saint of a holy household. There should be no blot on the escutcheon of our Christliness when we offer our gift upon the altar." These lines were quoted that week in a lecture on Christian Science which was delivered in London, and were brought to me by the practitioner. I cannot put into words the healing which took place in my character as well as in my body through these transforming words, and through the help I received from Christian Science treatment.

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